Signboard



May 1923. F. G. WIHITE SIGNBOARD Filed Magch 11, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l55 1N VENTOR '76 86 A: BY

)1 TTORIIVEI Y red QW/ ze! G. WHITE.

SIGNBOARD 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 Fild March 11 I Q @n mw INVENTOR I ByGZW/u'le.

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F. G. WHITE 'SIGNBOARD Filed March 11 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I ll y 11vVENTOR Freda Whize.

A TTORNE Y' Patented May 1, 1923.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED G. WHITE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO L EWIS R. LONG, 01:

' KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

I srennoarm.

Application filed March .11, 1921. Serial No. 451,521.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED G. VHITE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jacksonand State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin a Signboard; and I do declare the following to hey a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enables others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to sign boards and particularly to anautomatically changeable sign, the construction being suchthatdlfl'erent signs or indicia can become visible intermittently.

The invention consists in providing a plurality of sign units, eachhaving a plurality of faces and each face on each unit being adapted tobe brought into alignment with complementary faces of an adjacent unitat intermittent periods whereby an intermittently changing sign Willresult.

The invention is shown as consisting of a plurality of rotatable,triangular sign frames or units. on each face of each of which issuitable indicia, the triangular frames or units being arranged so thatone face of each frame will align with a complementary face i on anothertriangular frame. The units are so mechanically connected that they mustmove at a uniform speed and a uniform distance to effect properalignment of the faces on the respective units so that the propercomplementary faces will properly co-operate to produce the completesign of any one set of triangular frames.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sign constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sign operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the power means for operatingthe si n.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through a unit check.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a reduced sectional view: on the line 88 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram for the lights and the. circuit closertherefor.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference:

1 designates the floor of a sign board hous ing having ends2 and 3, arear wall 4 and a roof 5. The front of the housing isprovided with anopening, as at 6, from which the sign may be displayed, there being aprotected light source 7 at the top of the openlng whereby the face ofthe sign board elements or units may beilluminated.

Longitudinally of the housing is a rectangularskeleton frame consistingof the bottom bar 8, the top bar 9 and the end bars or risers 10 and 11.The frame consisting of the bars 8, 9, 10 and 11 extends substan tiallythe lengthof the housing and the bottom bar 8'is preferably countersunkin the floor 1.

Mounted in the bars 8 and 9 are vertical shafts 12, 13 and 14 whichconstitute. the supports upon which theunit drums are carried. Eachshaft carries a lower bracket 15 and an upper bracket 16, which supportthe triangulardrums 17, 18 and 19 of the respective sign units. Eachtriangular drum has three faces, upon which advertising in-' dicia maybe placed so that when complementary faces of the drums come into align:

ment, :1 continuous sign board will be pro vided, the length of whichwill be equal to the combined widths of the three aligning faces asindicated in Fig. 1.

There is a certain mechanism provided for rotating the drums and inorder to eliminate liability of the accumulated inertia causing thedrums to overrun, I have provided checks, one for each drum. Each checkis preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 6 and comprises acylinder 20 having an end 21 provided with an exhaust port- -22, the end21 being formed with a projection23, which may be pivoted at 24 to abracket 25 carried by the s gn housing. The cylinder 20 'ofeach check isprovided with a piston-26 between which'and the end 21 is a spring 27.The piston 26 is open at one end 28 and it carries a guided piston rod29 pivotally connectedat 30 to a rocking arm 31, pivoted to the signhousing at 32 and having a free end provided with an anti-frictionroller 33, which normally lies in the-path of the upstanding projections34, 35, and 36 in the angles of the respective drums.

Since the drums shown are equilateral triangles, a line drawn throughthe base of one triangle and at right angles thereto, and through theapex of the triangle will always equally bisect the distance between theends of the base of the angle. Therefore, when a flat face is presentedto view and assuming that it constitutes the base of the angle, the apexwill be in rear of the face with an upstanding projection 34, 35 and 36midway between the edges of the exposed panel. For example, if thetriangles are 1n the position shown in Fig. 4, then 34 will be in rearof the exposed face midway be- 1 tween 35 and 36 and it will contactwith the roller 33.

Assuming that the drums are to rotate clockwise, then 34 will pushagainst 33 during its initial rotation, compressing the spring 27 until34 moves away from 33, whereupon the spring will force the piston 26into extended position, bringing the roller 33 in the path of 35 so thatthe'face of the triangular drum between 34 and 36 will be exposed in amanner to align with complementary faces on the drums l8 and 19.

Each drum is provided with ahead, for example, 37, 38 and 39, to whichpower may be transmitted to drive the units. The head for each unit ispreferably fastened to the bracket 16 by screws 40 and 41. Each head isshown as provided with peripheral teeth 42, the teeth on all of theheads being engaged by a single endless chain or belt 43, engaging theend heads and the intermediate head, as shown in Fig. 4, so that theheads may all rotate together in un son. The chain is held in engagementwith the teeth on the intermediate head 38 by the idlers 44, 45, 46 and47. Therefore, as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5, when one head operates,all of them must have a synchronizing movement, this being important inorder to insure that the complementary faces of the respective drums 1718 and 19 will be in perfect alignment so that a continuous sign surfacewill be presented through the opening 6.

The top face of each head is provided with a circumferential slot 48,the floor of which is provided with spaced cam portions to provideshoulders 49, 50 and 51, equidstantly spaced apart to provide shouldersfor engagement by the pins 52, 53 and 54. vertically movable in the drawbar 55, which is reciprocated longitudinally of the frame by certainoperating mechanism to be presently described. The pins are normallyurged into engagement with the shoulders by the flat springs 56, 57 and58 on the draw bar 55, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The draw baris preferably connected to the top bar 9 by l'nks 59 and 60 so that whenthe bar is reciprocated, although it will exert a slight oscillatorymovement, it will maintain its proper position with respect to theelements which it is to drive. It will be obvious that when the bar 55is drawn in one direction, the pins 52, 53 and 54 will ride up theinclined fleors of the circular grooves in the heads of the units anddrop behind a shoulder 49, 50 or 51 in each head. Then when the bar ismoved in the opposite direction as, for example, from left to right, thepins will abut against the shoulders in the heads and cause a partialrotation of .the sign units; that is, each unit will be rotatedone-third of a revolution and since the units are all tied together bythe chain 43, they will essentially work in unison. After they are in;

place,'liability of independent movement of any one unit, due to thewind or from any other cause, will be eliminated because one unit cannotmove without imparting corresponding movement to every other unit.

There is a novel means for reciprocating the bar 55. This means consistsof a master gear 61, driven by a worm 62 on the shaft 63, receivingmotion from the motor 64,- one end of the shaft63 being supported in abearing bracket 65 (see Fig. 2). The shaft 66, on which the gear 61 ismounted, carries a cam 67, lying between the idlers 68 and 69 on pinscarried by' the bar 55. Therefore, as the gear 61 rotates, the cam 67,riding against the rollers 68 and 69, will reciprocate the bar 55 infirst one direction and then another to actuate the heads 37, 38 and 39of the respective units, it being understood that when the bar 55 ismoved from right to left. it will ride up the inclined cam portions inthe grooves 48 and over one of the shoulders 49, 50 or 51; then, whenthe draw bar 55 moves from left to right, the units will be rotated. Thebar 55 will be reciprocated back and forth for each revolution of thewheel 61 so as to move the units one-third of a revolution to present anew face each time for exposure through the opening 6.

In order to provide a positive lock for the units. I have provided threenotches 70, 71 and 72 for each head, and each notch is adjacent to theperiphery of the head, said notches being adapted to be engaged by thelatches or locking bolts 73. which ride vertically in guides 74, carriedby the bar 9. Each locking bolt 73 is normally urged into engagementwith its notch by a spring 75 and each locking bolt is adapted to beretracted out of engagement with a notch on the head by a releasing bar76 movable longitudinally of the frame. The bar 76 is side of the wheel61 at the beginnin of the rotation of said wheel. For examp e, when thelock bolts 73 are in proper posltion to present the proper complementaryfaces of the triangular drums for exposure, that 1s, when the bolts 73engage the notches and the gear 61 begins to rotate to change theposition of the drums, the pin 81 Wlll first act against the projectionto slide the cam faces 77 from right to left, raising the bolts 73 outof the notches 70. The cam 67 at this time begins to rotate so as toimpart a reciprocatory motion to the bar 55 and thereby rotate the heads37, 38 and 39, the bolts 73 ridin over the faces of the heads betweenthe notc es 70 until a new notch registers with each bolt, when thebolts will drop into the new notches under the action of the spring 75,it being understood that the reciprocation of the bar 76 from right toleft is only momentary, it being immediately retracted by the spring 82so that the lower portions of the cams will be in line wlth the bolts73, allowing them to drop into the appropriate slots 70 when theyregister therewith.

Upon the initial turning movement of the gear 61, the pin 81 rides onthe shoulder 80 to impart a slight longitudinal movement against theresistance of the spring 82 so that the higher portions of the cam 77Wlll ride under the shoulder 78 and raise the locking bolts 73 out ofthe notches 70 and free the heads so that they may rotate. There willimmediately follow a partial rotation of the heads: that is. one-thirdof a revolution during the time that the gear 61 is rotating a completerevolution.

lV hen the gear 61 has rotated a complete revolution so that the pin 81is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the parts will be again set so thatthe bar 76 may be reciprocated by the pin 81. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that the cam is so constructed that there will. be a moment ofrespose or static condition of the bar 55 at approximately each half ofthe revolution of the gear 61; that is. the shaft 66 and the gear 61 mayrotate part of a revolution without imparting any movement to the bar55.

The lamps, for example, 83 under the guard 7, are provided with acircuit 84, which may be energized from any suitable source and in thecircuit is a switch consisting of a rigid contact 85 and a springcontact 86, the latter being in line with the end 87 on the bar 76.Therefore, when the bar a cam having a neutral portion and a 76 is recirocated from right to left by the pin 81, t at is, during the time -thatthe is changing, the end, 87 of the bar 76 Wlll contact with the spring86 to break the circuit. Therefore, the sign will be in darkness becausethe circuit for the lamps will not be energized. When the sign has beenchanged, however, and the spring 82 is rendered effective to retract thebar 76 away from spring 86, the spring contact 86 will move into circuitclosing position and illuminate the sign. 'Therefore, the light isalternately flashed on and flashed off when the sign is exposed and whenit is being changed.-

From the foregoing it will be apparent thatthe sign may be convenientlychanged automatically through the mechanism disclosed or its equivalentand that the action of the moving mechanism will be sure and positive;that is, the intermittent changing of the sign faces will be assured sothat the units will move in synchronism and be positively locked intheir proper relative positions. Liability of overrunning of the signelements will be eliminated and the liability of slippage or overrunningof any of the parts will be so guarded against that the sign willrequire very little if any attention, it being only necessary to provideelectrical energy for the circuit 84 and power for the motor 64.

- What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A device of the class described comprising rotatable,indicia-carrying drums having complementary aligning faces and mountedfor rotation on fixed axes, mechanism for simultaneously rotating thedrums to successively present complementary aligning faces, saidmechanism lncluding a draw bar pitman for actuating the drums,

itman-actuating portion, means for actuating the cam, and lockingmeansfor temporarily engaging the drums to hold them in fixed aligningpositions, said locking means being controlled from the cam-actuatingmeans.

2. A device of the class described comprising rotatable indicia-carryingdrums having complementary aligning faces and mounted for rotation onfixed axes, mechanism for simultaneously rotating the drums tosuccessively present complementary aligning faces, sald mechanismincluding a draw bar pitman for actuating the drums, means for actuatingthe draw bar pitman,

and means connecting all of the drums for simultaneously rotating thedrums to sue cessively present complementary aligning faces, saidmechanism including a draw bar pitman for actuating the drums, a camhaving a neutral portion and a pitman-actuating portion, means foractuating the cam, and means for synchronizing the movement of all ofthe drums, said means comprising chain and sprocket connections betweenthe respective drums.

4'. A device of the class described comprising rotatable,indicia-carrying drums having complementary aligning faces and mountedfor rotation on fixed axes, mechanism for simultaneously rotating thedrums to suecessively present complementary aligning faces, saidmechanism including a draw bar pitmnn for actuating the drums, a camhaving a neutral portion and a pitman-actuating portion, means foractuating the cam,

means for intermittently locking the drums in fixed position, a lightsource, a circuit closer in the light source, and a circuit breakerintermittently operated by the last named means.

5. A device ofthe class described comprising rotatable indicia-carryingdrums having complementary aligning faces and mounted for rotation onfixed axes, mechanism for simultaneously rotating the drums tosuccessively present the complementary aligning faces, locks forintermittently holding the drums in fixed position, means forsimultaneously actuating all of the drums, and checks for the respectivedrums, each having a yielding lever arm normally urged in the path ofthe rotating drum.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED G. WHITE.

